The Santa Barbara Independent

Best of Santa Barbara® 2026

Cover Story By Tiana Molony & Tyler Hayden

The people crown their champions.

Santa Barbara Unified Superintendent Hilda Maldonado Resigning at End of School Year

Education By Callie Fausey

Maldonado’s last day will be June 30, 2027, marking the end of a six-year tenure wrought with controversy.

No Data Center Coming to Santa Barbara’s Earl Warren Showgrounds

Science & Tech By Elaine Sanders

Earl Warren leadership issues a statement ahead of its next board meeting on October 29.

Santa Barbara Supervisors Approve $167M for North County Jail Addition, Tolling Death Knell for Old Jail

Public Safety By Nick Welsh

Six additional housing units will be built at the Northern Branch Jail; all but a small portion of the Main Jail is on the path will be closed.

Goleta Council Votes to Block New Gun Stores for a Year

Public Safety By Christina McDermott

The temporary ban will last one year.

Santa Barbara’s DMV Will Be Closed For Three Months Starting Friday

Transportation By Elaine Sanders

Castillo Street DMV will reopen in mid-January after renovations.

The Timeless Talents of Bernadette Peters

Music By Leslie Dinaberg

It’s hard not to gush after an evening in Santa Barbara with this fabulous performer.

multimedia Stories

Music Academy Breaks Grounds on ‘The Muse’ in Downtown Santa Barbara

Photo

Former Forever 21 at 901 State Street starts its transformation into a music hall and education center at Thursday’s groundbreaking.

Dos Pueblos and Rio Mesa Get Down in Post-Game Dance Battle

Video

The two teams broke out into an impromptu dance battle in a show of sportsmanship after Dos Pueblos won the game 48-6.

Santa Barbara Students and Community Members Speak out Against Recent Blackface Incident

Video

Community members call for consequences for students involved in San Marcos blackface incident at October 13th school board meeting.

Larry Nimmer Throws a Dart at the Santa Barbara Studio Artists Tour

Video

Santa Barbara filmmaker’s new snstallment of D’Art series surveys a variety of artists in their studios.

‘Scream If You Love Raising Canes’

Video

Community members and protesters show up for the grand opening of Raising Cane’s in Goleta.

‘LA Times’ Star Mark Barabak Breaks Down Midterms State of Play: Dems Look Solid to Win House, Puncher’s Chance to Take Senate

Video

California’s top political columnist returns to “Newsmakers TV” for in-depth and detailed analysis of how Iran war and Trump’s unpopularity triggered a “red undertow” that may lead to “blue wave.”

UCSB Arts & Lectures ‘Air Time’: Sérgio and Clarice Assad

Audio

A conversation with Charles Donelan.

Annual Chumash Intertribal Powwow Draws a Crowd in Santa Ynez Despite Soaring Temperatures

Photo

A heatwave doesn’t keep dancers from competing at the weekend powwow.

Santa Barbara Mayoral Candidate Forum

Video

The discussion included candidates Eric Friedman, Wendy Sims-Moten, and Kristen Sneddon.

Santa Barbara City Council District 4 Candidate Forum

Video

The discussion included the candidates Devon Wardlow, Monte Wilson, Jason Dominguez, and Genevieve Taft-Vasquez.

Arts & Entertainment

Bowin’ and Pickin’ in the Good Land

Music By Josef Woodard

The Santa Barbara Old-Time Fiddler’s Festival, in its 53rd anniversary edition, transformed Goleta’s Stowe House with old-time and bluegrassy sounds, onstage and around the property.